What have you seen on the internet that

is not true?

How do you know if

something you read on the internet is true or

not?

The Reliability of Internet Sources

Elizabeth Ann BrownED 498

AuthorDomainOrganizationMotivationVerifiability

AuthorWebsite type (personal or professional)Contact informationAffiliation and credentials

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2010-119

Organization

• Academic or scholarly• Recognized• Credible• Authoritative

Domains.org =

nonprofit organization

.com / .net = personal,

commercial, etc

.edu = educational institution

.gov = reliable

government website

Motivation

• Intended audience• Possible bias• Self-publication• Financial gain

Verifiable

• Links to sources• Background

information on site

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2010-119

Verifiable

•Bibliography

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/foot-pain/MY00082

Internet Reliability

You be the judge• Who wrote it?• What is its purpose and

motivation?• What organization supports it?• Can the information be

verified?

Knee Replacement

Sources• Bedfordstmartins.com/guidebook/online_7.htm• Homeworktips.about.com/od/

researchandreference/a/internet.htm• Library.jhu.edu/researchhelp/general/evaluating/• Mason.gmu.edu/~montecin/web-eval-sitess.htm• Virtualsalt.com/evalu8it/htm• Websearch.about.com/od/referencesearch/a/

evauatesource.htm• www4.uwm.edu/libraries/help/faq/reliability.cfm